The start of the 2015-16 school year marked the beginning of the 10th year of Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK). In celebration of the milestone and in anticipation of a month-long celebration, a giant cake was enjoyed and a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" could be heard reverberating throughout the capitol courtyard on Tuesday, which was also known as "Children's Capitol for a Day."
Committees in both the House and Senate approved bills that make key improvements to the McKay Scholarship for children with disabilities. The proposal allows schools to develop a 'transition-to-work' program for scholarship students ages 17-22.
On Thursday, the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously (12-0) approved HB 89 (Diaz, J.) that eliminates the five-year waiting period for low-income, lawfully-residing immigrant children to participate in the KidCare insurance program. The proposal maintains the exclusion of eligibility for undocumented immigrants of any age.
In the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that redefined marriage to accommodate same-sex couples, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted (7-3) to approve SB 110 (Bean), a measure dubbed the 'Pastor Protection Act.'
On Wednesday, January 27, the Senate Criminal Justice Subcommittee held a workshop to discuss legislative remedies that address Florida's death sentencing process in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hurst v. Florida.
Both HB 1411 (Burton) and its Senate companion, SB 1722 (Stargel), cleared their first committees of reference this week. The House bill was passed by the Health Quality Subcommittee (7-6); the Senate bill passed the Health Policy Committee (5-3).
National Catholic Schools Week 2016 will be observed in dioceses around the country, January 31-February 6. This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," focuses on the important faith-building, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education.
HB 233 (Trujillo), which requires facilities performing post first trimester abortions to meet ambulatory surgical center licensing regulations, passed (9-4) in its first of three committees on Tuesday. The bill travels next to the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. A senate companion bill has not yet been filed. FCCB supports the bill.
HB 675 (Metz), which requires that local law enforcement agencies enforce federal immigration policy, passed (11-4) its final House committee, Judiciary, on Thursday. FCCB Executive Director Michael Sheedy outlined concerns in a letter to the bill sponsor noting:
HB 221 (Trujillo) requires coverage for emergency services regardless of whether the service is furnished by a participating or nonparticipating provider. The bill reduces out-of-pocket expenses associated with an issue known as 'balance billing' that can occur when patients who need emergency care are treated by providers who are not part of their insurers' networks. The bill was approved unanimously by the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (12-0). A companion measure in the Senate, SB 1442 (Garcia), was filed last week. FCCB is monitoring these bills.
Tallahassee greeted busloads of students, parents, and school faculty as they arrived today for what has been dubbed one of the largest school choice rallies ever held in the United States. The “Rally in Tally,” spearheaded by Florida Voices for Choices, showcased the value of the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for children in low-income families.
HB 9 (Trujillo), which creates a state felony and increases the penalty for the illegal reentry of undocumented persons, was passed (8-3) by its second committee of reference, House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, on Wednesday.
The House Health Innovation Subcommittee on Wednesday unanimously approved (13-0) HB 89 (Diaz, J.) that would eliminate a five-year waiting period before qualified children of legal immigrants are eligible for the KidCare health-insurance program.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Approximately 2,000 students, parents and administrators representing more than 35 Catholic schools in Florida will travel to Tallahassee Tuesday, January 19 to march to the state Capitol and attend a school choice rally. Members of the K-12 Catholic school community will join thousands of participants from across the state to promote parental empowerment in education and the ability of parents to choose the best educational environments for their children. Rally organizer, Florida Voices for Choices, anticipates this event will be among the largest school choice rallies in our nation’s history.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has long identified the need to address Florida’s flawed death sentencing scheme despite our position that life imprisonment without parole is an alternative that keeps society safe and renders the death penalty unnecessary.
Members of the Sadowski Housing Coalition gathered at the Florida Realtors’ Association in Tallahassee on January 7th to implore Florida’s legislators, “Don’t sweep housing trust funds” because “Home Matters.”
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Saddened by yet another anniversary of the January 22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, the Catholic bishops of Florida recognize in their annual Roe v. Wade statement the courage of lawmakers who this past year sought to reduce abortion in our state.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on January 7 at 6:00 p.m. for the 1986 murder of Teri Lynn Matthews. If carried out, Bolin would be the 23rd Death Row inmate executed under Governor Rick Scott's leadership. Bolin is serving a separate death sentence for the murder of Stephanie Collins and received a life sentence for the murder of Natalie Blanche Holley.